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  • Jakob Renner

Business Lessons From Talespin May 3, 2016

Disney over the years has produced a number of memorable television programs,  Talespin (1990-1991) is often considered one of the companies strongest.* This series took characters from the Jungle Book and placed them in a 1930s setting. Baloo* became a cargo pilot, King Louie became a island Tiki-bar owner and Shere Khan was cast as a corporate CEO. Odd as these choices may sound, the show worked brilliantly. Baloo and his friends would fly off on adventures that often combined elements of Indiana Jones and Film Noir. One other aspect of the show worth appreciating is its depiction of small business, corporatism and the regulatory state. Baloo works for the Higher for...

By Jakob Renner Vote0 0

Saluting The Colonel Apr 30, 2016

Harlan Sanders (September 9th 1890-December 16th 1980) was born in Henryville Indiana into a family of farmers. Who worked on a 80 acre farm, in 1895 Sanders father died. Leaving the eldest Sanders to look after his two siblings while his mother worked at a tomato cannery. Due to these circumstances Sanders learned early how to cook and forage for food. In 1902 Sanders mother remarried, personality conflicts prompted Sanders to leave home.  To sustain himself he worked a number of jobs including: farm hand, streetcar conductor, railway worker, salesman and ferryboat operator. By 1930 Sanders was operating a service station in Corbin Kentucky.Where he served...

By Jakob Renner Vote3 0

Ben Franklin’s Constitutional Convention Speech Apr 30, 2016

Constitutional Convention speech (1787)   Mr. President I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed,...

By Jakob Renner Vote1 4

Prohibition and the Birth of NASCAR Apr 30, 2016

On January 16th 1920 the 18th amendment took effect. This amendment with few exceptions, forbid the sale, transport and manufacture of alcohol in the United States. This new law of the land is credited with creating a black market. That gave rise to gangsters, speakeasy's and bootleggers. In Appalachia bootleggers  became notorious for trying to out run prohibition agents. By using cars built for speed and maneuverability. After prohibition ended in 1933, a number of drivers missed the excitement of racing prohibition agents. As a result Stock Car Racing became popular. One pitfall of the sport was crooked promoters. Who would...

By Jakob Renner Vote4 2

Early Corporatism: The Yazoo Land Fraud Apr 12, 2016

In the years following the end of the Revolutionary War (April 19th 1775- September 3rd 1783). The state government of Georgia lead by governor George Mathews. Sought to protect and develop territories along the Yazoo River.* By offering land contracts to speculators and settlers. Several attempts were made to encourage settlers before the  Yazoo act of 1795 was signed. This act gave the Georgia company, Georgia-Mississippi  Company, Upper Mississippi Company and New Tennessee Company, the right to purchase 40,000,000 acres of land at the below market value price of $500,000 dollars. In exchange a number of legislators received cash bribes and company shares. When the details...

By Jakob Renner Vote1 0

Little Golden Books: A Golden Oppertunity Mar 8, 2016

Little Golden Books were first  introduced in 1942 by Georges Duplaix. Duplaix had observed that access to children's literature. Was  primarily limited to heavy volumes of children  stories. That could cost upwards of 2 to 3 dollars. To make his books Duplaix decieded to use durable cardboard and limit the number of pages, keeping the books slim. This design allowed Duplaix to charge 25 cents, versus 2 to 3 dollars for the bookstore volumes. The books proved to be an immediate success. The price and  slim design of the books, allowed small stores to buy stock. Increasing the access to children's literature across the United...

By Jakob Renner Vote3 2

Don Bluth: The Man Who Challenged and Revived Disney Mar 7, 2016

Don Bluth worked at Disney animation from 1955-79. Helping to create such classics as Sleeping Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, Robin Hood and The Rescuers. By the late 70's Bluth became a head animator. Working alongside the Remaining "Nine Old Men"*. Bluth was happy with his position, but thought that current management was not concerned with pushing the limits of animation. The way Walt Disney had been before his death in 1966: "During the production of Robin Hood. I think it was during this period where studying the classics of English Literature really clicked in and I was suddenly aware that the stories Disney...

By Jakob Renner Vote7 0

Jerry Rubin: Counter Culture Capitalist Feb 19, 2016

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."-Frederic Bastiat Jerry Rubin Counter Culture Capitalist During the 60's a number of anti-establishment groups emerged. Protesting anything from the Vietnam War to social and political norms. One of the most high profile was the Youth International Party. More commonly known as the "The Yippi Movement", founded by Jerry Rubin (July 14, 1938-November 28, 1994), Abbie Hoffman, Anita Hoffman, Nancy Kurshan and Paul Krassner. The Yippi's proselytized...

By Jakob Renner Vote7 4

Francois Vidocoq: The First Private Detective Jan 31, 2016

Francois Vidocoq (July, 24th, 1775-May 11th 1857) considered "The Father of Modern Criminology" was quite a cad in his youth. His many escapades include,  stealing money from his parents, dealing with affairs of honor and earning the nickname Le Vautrin (The Wild Boar). In the local French fight clubs. By 1809 Vidocoq had endured a life of petty crime, prison escapes and criminal gangs. In an effort to go straight Vidocoq agreed to become an undercover police informant. Reporting planned robberies, escapes and forgeries. Vidocoq's undercover work, was so well recived. That by 1811 Vidocoq was charged with training official undercover police...

By Jakob Renner Vote0 0

Solving My Friends Murder: The Sheila Wysocki Story Dec 24, 2015

In 1984 Sheila Wysocki was a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Her roommate was a popular girl named Angie Samote. Tragically that same year Samote was found raped and brutally murdered in the students  shared apartment. Police and Wysocki were convinced that one of Samote's old flames had committed the crime. However due to the limits of DNA testing at the time and lack of corroborating evidence. Nobody was brought up on charges and the case went cold. Wysocki states that after the event she had "No Clear Path" dropping out of school and devoting time to the...

By Jakob Renner Vote5 0

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